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Nestled in the Austrian alps, Obergurgl is a hugely popular skiing destination, although it’s a little different than some of the more well-known ski resorts in Europe.
A key resort in the Austrian skiing armoury, strong snow-sure conditions are a major pull for Brits and Europeans - the skiing is top notch and there’s access to a plentiful supply of pistes and trails.
Obergurgl (sometimes named just Gurgl in reference to its newest purpose-built addition, Hochgurgl) is a resort aimed more to people wanting to spend quality time in the mountains.
And while it can’t match the raucous nightlife of the likes of St Anton - there is also a respectable après culture in Obergurgl to be discovered.
We’ve easily come up with nine great reasons to visit Obergurgl. If you’d like to know more about where to stay, have a look at hotels or apartments in the resort.
READ MORE: If you're looking for a large ski area, Les Arcs could be a great alternative. Find out all the reasons why Les Arcs is a great ski resort.
1. It’s one of Austria’s highest resorts (meaning lots of snow!)
Situated at 1,930m, Obergurgl is safely within Austria’s highest handful of resorts, and even makes the conversation when talking about Europe.
High altitude can only mean one thing - plenty of reliable snowfall… and Obergurgl has it in abundance. It’s one of the first non-glacier ski areas in the Tirol region to open its doors for the season (mid-November!) and even the slopes drenched in sun will stay open right until late April.
Pistes exist up to the 3,080m mark and are largely supported by artificial snow - not that much of it is needed, though. In the 2023-24 season, snow depths were up to 190cm on upper slopes, and 100cm on lower ones.
In fact, it impressed us so much that it beat all the competition in our list of top snow-sure ski resorts in Austria.
2. It’s part of a fantastic ski area
We’ve established that Obergurgl’s snow record is really strong, but that doesn’t mean much if the quality and quantity of pistes isn’t great.
Luckily though, Obergurgl has enough areas to explore new runs each day, and its pairing with Hochgurgl - the newer, purpose-built satellite town - means there’s plenty to be getting on with. Just hop on the Top-Express gondola at the end of Obergurgl’s Piste 12 and discover a whole new world of skiing (112km overall!).
Popular runs in Hochgurgl include Piste 32, which is a quiet one for some gorgeous skiing - while Hochgurgl also offers you the chance to ski uninterrupted from an altitude of 3,000m down to 1,200m in Untergurgl.
3. Obergurgl is great for beginners and intermediates
Obergurgl is a top pick if you’re part of a group where some people are more comfortable on the planks than others.
The immediate ski area of Obergurgl and Hochgurgl has lots of slopes above the tree line and as they face the sun most of the time, difficult icy missions are a rarity.
Pretty much all the runs point back towards the town centre too, so beginners and tentative intermediates won’t have to worry about getting lost.
Similarly, thanks to its altitude, a good chunk of Obergurgl’s accommodation is ski-in, ski-out - nice for everyone, but particularly good for beginners who aren’t used to carrying heavy skis around town.
Meanwhile, over half (about 60km) of local runs are blues, meaning there’s plenty to be getting on with for the newbies.
Iglu Ski Head of Commercial Gordon Ritter says: “The best areas for beginners are found near the Gaisberg or Mahdstuhl lifts - you can also nip to Hochgurgl for some easy stuff too”.
Overall, the Obergurgl-Hochgurgl area has 112km of pristine pistes, with 33.2km marked as red runs for intermediates, and 14.3km designated as black runs, which are the most difficult.
Read more:
Make sure to check out our beginner's guide to skiing in Obergurgl for all the reasons why it's a great resort for first time skiers.
4. Use the Ötztal Super Ski pass for even more top-quality skiing (especially useful for expert skiers)
The skiing doesn’t stop in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl though. The resort lies in the Ötztal valley, which is also home to the brilliant Sölden, as well as two other pretty resorts called Hochötz and Kühtai.
This is an adventure for anyone to go on after a few days in Obergurgl, although these ones aren’t connected by ski lifts - you’d be taking the bus. That being said, it’s a beautiful drive through the mountains, and only about 25 minutes to Sölden - although the latter two are closer to an hour away.
Sölden has a further 144km of pistes and is well-suited to intermediate and advanced skiers (possibly a key option if you’re an advanced skier staying in Obergurgl in a mixed-ability group). It has two glaciers (Rettenbach and Tiefenbach) to explore, and is also where a lengthy chase scene was filmed for the 2015 James Bond film, Spectre - there’s even a museum dedicated to it.
The Ötztal Super Ski pass lets you visit Sölden, Gurgl, Hochötz, Kühtai, and the smaller places of Niederthai, Gries and Vent. It’s a minimum of 3 days that you can get the pass, and it’ll cost €212 in cash, or €183 if bought online. Check out the full prices here.
5. Rapid transfer time
Obergurgl is nicely located in the Ötztal Valley. Just an hour-and-twenty-minute drive from Innsbruck Airport, it is great for those who aren’t keen on long drives.
This is particularly useful for young families, with Iglu Ski sales rep Michael Higgs reiterating that “although some people tend to overlook transfer times, longer drives can be a real struggle for families”.
If you’re not on a package holiday then you can also jump on one of the regular direct bus services between the airport and resort.
There’s also trains from many neighbouring countries - including Italy, Germany and Switzerland - to Ötztal train station, where public buses can shuttle you in and out.
6. It’s a really pretty village
The resort prides itself on its classy image, and you’ll notice this as soon as you arrive. The skiing is brilliant, while the village is quiet, in a quaint chalet style.
The centre is largely traffic-free, ensuring a safe and quiet environment to really wind down in. Not only is the town nice, but you can also go on plenty of beautiful walks nearby.
You can start heading along the river either up or down stream, which has designated walking paths. If you go upwards, then you’ll end up at the beautiful Rotmoos Waterfall, while downhill will take you to the pretty areas of Pill and Untergurgl.
Obergurgl is a great shout for families and friend groups who are after something a bit quieter - although party-goers are catered for as well.
7. Check out Obergurgl’s fancy motorbike museum
A really unique addition to a ski resort, Hochgurgl’s TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum was revamped in 2021 following a fire - and they’ve made it into an amazing experience.
Safely Europe’s highest motorbike museum, it houses over 500 vintage motorcycles, has a 4D cinema where you can feel the ‘wind’ blow through your hair, while feeling like you are riding one.
Mixed in with a few classic cars too, the motorbikes are parked up in a velodrome style interior, with some even hanging from the ceiling.
It’s a great lunch spot during your day of skiing - you can nip down either the Kirchenkar 20 Red Piste or 20a Blue Piste, before clicking out of your skis and heading in. There’s also a restaurant serving quality Austrian cuisine to fuel the rest of your day.
Tickets are €15 per person.
8. Drink and dine at the top of the world
This could well be the highest restaurant that you visit in your life - perched on a terrifyingly (but perfectly safe) narrow ridge at 3,030m above sea level, the Top Mountain Star is an unforgettable building which serves quality food and drink.
From within the star-shaped restaurant, you can look through the glass windows and see all the way into Italy’s Dolomites, as well as down the slopes which you’ve just travelled up via chairlift.
It’s the perfect place to recharge your legs for another bout of skiing.
Discover how great Obergurgl is for yourself
If this guide has sparked an interest in this wonderful Austrian resort for you, then make sure to browse our best Obergurgl ski deals online.
You can also phone our brilliant sales team on who can guide you through the process - they’ve all done seasons in the mountains, and know exactly how to help you.